According to the NSNA, or National Student Nurses' Association, a nurse manager is required to play a role similar to a chief executive officer of a little company. To work as a head nurse, you will need to be able to balance available resources with the patients' and staffs' needs, ensuring the best outcome possible.
There are five different areas that the nurse manager's role falls within, service, business growth, personnel, financial solvency and quality.
To be a head nurse, you will have to be very flexible, approachable and consistent. You will have to encourage shared decision making and that the voices of staff nurses are heard during the decision making process, dealing with the daily practices of the facility.
The nurse manager is considered to be the middle manager inside of a health care facility. The nurse is required to supervise clinicians' direct care, report to a nurse director and is considered a colleague of other health care managers that supervise the pharmacy and radiology departments.
A head nurse is required to work closely with managers in order to develop procedures and processes that ensure that patient care is reflecting the mission and values of the organization.
